Monday, January 28, 2013

Attack on Food Freedom Comes to Missouri

"The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 (H.R. 2751) was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011. It aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from responding to contamination to preventing it. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has given the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested and processed. The law grants FDA a number of new powers, including mandatory recall authority, which the agency has sought for many years." - Wikipedia

In a case in 2011, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Patrick J. Fiedler issued the following as his decision on a motion for clarification from a previous case:

(1) Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to own and use a dairy cow or a dairy herd;
(2) Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to consume the milk from their own cow;
(3) Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to board their cow at the farm of a farmer;
(4) The Zinniker Plaintiffs’ private contract does not fall outside the scope of the States’ police power;
(5) Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to produce and consume the foods of their choice;
(6) DATCP [Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection] . . . had jurisdiction to regulate the Zinniker Plaintiffs’ conduct.

In a December 2010 Washington Post article by Amanda Becker, it is stated, "At least 221 organizations hired 77 lobbying shops to quibble over details in the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act since it was introduced by sponsor Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) at the beginning of last year. At times, industry organizations and corporate heavyweights with a stake in the bill -- such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Restaurant Association, the Natural Products Association, Abbott Laboratories and Anheuser-Busch -- retained multiple District firms to represent their interests. Many also deployed their own government relations staff to the Hill, a Capital Business analysis of Senate lobbying records shows.
The bill would give vast new authority to the FDA and is designed to reduce nationwide outbreaks of food-borne illness."

What we have found the bill actually does is gives the FDA the authority to come onto your private property at any time and seize any raw dairy product you have, destroy any crops you may be growing or have harvested, etc. at any time all under the auspice of the heavily lobbied for Food Safety Modernization Act.
Rawesome Foods in Venice, California has been on the receiving end of this corporate influence in 2011...

These are not the only cases where our food freedom is under attack. Julie Bass in Oak Park, Michigan comes to mind when she was threatened with 93 days in jail lest she destroys her front yard vegetable garden that she fed her family with and restore it to a lawn and several other similar circumstances elsewhere in the U.S.

We here in Missouri felt this corporate takeover of our food rights just a few days ago when the Missouri State Milk Board raided Morningland Dairy, a 30 year Missouri raw dairy farm with no reported illnesses as a result of their many years of raw dairy product production and distribution. They took this action citing dubious testing results and refused further testing of product on-hand.

This from owner of Morningland Dairy, Joe Dixon...

What can we do? Refuse to comply. My son was asking me questions about revolution the other day. I told him the most effective way to revolt is to sever the dependence on that which you are revolting against. They would then lose their power. Imagine if every single family in this country began growing their own food, harvesting their own rainwater, generating their own electricity, etc. The corporations would lose their customer base and, therefore, their profit. They would then not have the economic persuasion on legislation. Start a kitchen garden! And yes, in opposition of the Food Safety Modernization Act, share your produce with your neighbor. They will appreciate it, you will appreciate it and community will build. Keep handing those tomatoes over the fence!

Other ways to help ensure food freedom is through the usual legislative channels of contacting your representatives on all levels of government. Don't stop there, though. Contact the FDA, the USDA your state agriculture and health departments, etc. Tell them that you are in opposition of the corporate takeover of our food freedom. Articulate to them how it is a blatant violation of our fundamental human rights to produce and consume our own food to sustain ourselves and our families.

Show this article to your parents and your grandparents. Imagine if you could go back in time to speak with your great grandparents and great great grandparents and you told them what is happening to our food freedom today. Can you imagine how they would react? What would they suggest as a remedy to the situation? That's where it could get interesting. To find how our ancestors, pioneer Americans, would have responded to a similar violation of fundamental rights... What are you personally willing to do?

If you are from Missouri and you wish to support local food freedom and help out a long time Missouri farming family whose lives have been turned upside down by this corruption in our 'system', visit Morningland Dairy and show them your support.

Shop locally, plant a garden, share the bounty and sever the dependence. I leave you with this...

*Update...

I had to post this information provided by a commentator below here as it is invaluable. Please utilize one or all venues of action.

"Here are some notes I made while listening to the interview with Joe and Denise Dixon. If you are asking yourself what can I do? Well a lot. Below are some ideas on what you can do to help.

Michael Evens was the host of the show. He has a FB page you can find here:https://www.facebook.com/AmericasVoiceNow

Here is the website page for Americas voice now.http://americasvoicenow.org/

This is the first I have come across Americas Voice Now so I'm not endorsing them, but they so far seem to be worth the time to look at.

Mike Cunningham is the State Senator for the area where the Dixon's live. http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills061/member/mem145.htm

Shawn Rhoads is the State Rep for the area where the Dixon's live. http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=154

Call them to ask if they are aware of this situation and what can be done about it, or to prevent this happing again to other farmers who want to provide a choice in our food system.

Governor Jay Nixon, the phone number is at the bottom of the page or you can fill out the form. http://governor.mo.gov/contact/

Howell County Sheriff: http://www.howellcountysheriff.org//

The Dixon's are starting a new cleaning business the phone number is 417-349-0167. If you own a business or want your home cleaned consider doing business with them.

If would like to donate to help them get back on their feet their address is 6248 County Rd. 2980 Mountain View MO 65548. or you can donate online here:http://uncheeseparty.wordpress.com/?